Our faces are like fingerprints. We are all unique and there is no one size that fits all.

For the women I help in my East London clinic, some require volume replacement where strategically placed dermal fillers can help, and some need more skin care treatments and collagen stimulating products such as Profhilo, skin boosters and polynucleotides.

Did you know that we start losing collagen at a rate of 1% a year when we hit 30 and it’s estimated that when we turn 40, we have lost on average 24% of our collagen?

This is what causes the production of fine lines, wrinkles and saggy skin with jaw laxity, heavy hooded eyes and eye bags. But all is not lost! Gradual treatments to work on those areas can boost your collagen and make you look years younger and more importantly keep you looking natural and just like you but a fresher, more rejuvenated version. 

When patients come to see me, we start with a thorough consultation discussing what they are unhappy with and what they would like to improve.

Oftentimes, they feel they are starting to look more tired, or that their face is starting to sag. It may be they don’t like the way their foundation is creasing over their skin, such as over their forehead lines or the lines around their mouth. Perhaps their lips are starting to look thinner or asymmetrical. Does any of this sound familiar?

Following the consultation, various treatments are discussed and patients are counselled on the risks and benefits of each one and what I think would be best suited. There is no rush to have the treatments done and patients are encouraged to take the time to think about the treatment options and book in when they are ready. 

PROFHILO & SKIN BOOSTERS

To start with, Profhilo and skin boosters are an excellent initial injectable treatment to hold onto the collagen in the face (now referred to as collagen banking – think the weakest link where you’re banking your reserves) as well as boosting and increasing collagen production. This softens the lines in the face, makes the skin glow due to the hyaluronic acid and increases the moisture production. Profhilo has the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid and is an excellent treatment for treating dry, dull and dehydrated skin. Skin boosters are more targeted treatments for specific areas, whereas Profhilo is designed for the lower face and neck. With skin boosters you can focus on areas around the eyes, forehead or around the mouth. It is more flexible with where you can inject and tailor it to the patient’s concerns. 

DERMAL FILLERS

Following this I do suggest dermal fillers where appropriate and gently refill and soften those hollows and indents that have been created over time. As we age we start to develop bone recession, the fat pads in our face start to split and we lose collagen in our skin. Over time this can cause lines to develop around our mouth, our nose to mouth lines get deeper, the jaw becomes less defined, the skin in our neck starts to become more wrinkly and loose and our lips get thinner. Dermal fillers can be strategically placed in the face to replenish the lost volume to restore your face as close to how it was before. It helps to create the illusion the face has been lifted by injecting and contouring over specific areas in the face, similar to the 8 point face lift. 

POLYNUCLEOTIDES

For patients who are a bit wary of filler, in particular under the eyes, there is now an option of polynucleotides, which are bio-stimulators and it is an injectable treatments. Polynucleotides are derived from purified and filtered fish DNA. They work with the body’s DNA to increase collagen production by stimulating the fibroblasts to enhance the elastin in our skin. For those of you with dark under eyes, this is a great treatment to smooth out fine lines, improve the skin texture and restore the elasticity in the skin. 

Combined with skin treatments in clinic and at home, the overall effect is quite remarkable – Get ready to receive compliments that you don’t look a year in your 40s! I see patients from across London in my South Woodford clinic, book in a consultation with me to discuss Dermal Filler, Polynucleotides, and Profhilo.